How to Write a Reference Letter for a Friend

Occasionally, someone you know will ask you to submit a personal (or character) reference for him or her. A character reference is a reference from someone you know personally, rather than a former employer. You might be asked to write a personal reference for a neighbor, acquaintance, advisor, or someone you volunteer with.

People often use character references in addition to or as an alternative to employment reference letters. People might use this if their work record is not perfect, or if it is their first job. Below are tips on how to write a character reference for a friend, as well as a sample reference letter for a friend.

Reference Letter for a Friend (Text Version)

I am writing to you regarding Suzanne Element. I have known Suzanne personally for over ten years, and have always known her to be an organized and responsible individual. I believe that her skills and experience make her an excellent candidate for office manager in your organization.

When I met Suzanne, she had just left an administrative position in a busy Fashion House, where she was responsible for bookkeeping, answering phones, and making appointments. She took such pride in her work there and even developed strategies for making her bookkeeping more organized and efficient.

During the time I have known her, Suzanne has been active in our community, serving on the Library Board and the Historical Society. She has taken many responsible roles in both of these organizations; her contributions include acting as Secretary of the Library Board and heading the Historical Society's Annual Fund Drive. She achieved multiple successes in both of these positions. For example, as head of the Historical Society’s Fund Drive, she helped raise 28% more funds than the previous year. Much of this had to do with her success in getting and organizing dozens of volunteers. Her passion, combined with her organization, makes her an asset to any organization.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me by phone or email.

Regards,

Xena Smythe

Advice for Writing a Reference Letter for a Friend

Focus on the particular job: Ask your friend for information on the job they are applying for. This way, you can focus on the requirements of the position. Try to include language from the job listing, if your friend shares the listing with you. Even if you are writing a more general recommendation, you can still ask your friend about the types of jobs they will be applying for.

Collect information: Ask the person for whom you’re writing the letter for a copy of his or her resume or CV so that you can speak to the person’s experience.

Explain how you know the person: In the introduction, briefly explain how you know the person, and for how long you have known him or her. You do not have to give details about how you met; you can simply say that you have known the person personally for however many years.

Include specific examples: In the letter, provide specific examples of ways in which the person has demonstrated various qualities.

Remain positive: State that you think this person is a strong candidate for the position. Emphasize this especially at the beginning and end of the letter. After all, you want to help this candidate stand out.

Share your contact information: Provide a way for the employer to contact you if they have further questions. Include your email address, telephone number, or both at the end of the letter.

Follow the submission guidelines: Ask the friend for whom you are writing how to submit the letter. Make sure you follow any requirements, especially about where to send it and when, as well as the format (for example, PDF, physical letter, etc.).

Think carefully about saying yes: Make sure you only agree to write the letter if you can write a positive recommendation. If you don’t think you can tell the person you are not comfortable writing the recommendation. Here’s how to turn down a recommendation request.

How to Use Reference Letter Examples

It is a good idea to review letter of recommendation samples before writing your letter. Along with helping with your layout, examples can help you see what kind of content you should include in your document.

You might also look at letter of recommendation templates to get a sense of how to lay out your recommendation, and what to include (such as introductions and body paragraphs).

There are also useful guidelines for formatting recommendation letters including length, format, font, and how to organize your letters.

While examples, templates, and guidelines are a great starting point for your letter, you should always be flexible. You should tailor a letter example to fit your friend’s experience and the job to which he or she is applying.